It’s National Kidney Month and we are raising awareness of the impact chronic kidney disease is having on our nation’s health! This year, we’ll provide grants to help 1 out of every 5 U.S. dialysis patients access health care, and we will reach millions of people with kidney disease education and prevention efforts. We can’t do it without you—your support is critical in the fight against chronic kidney disease, a condition affecting 31 million Americans.
AKF took the fight against kidney disease to the nation’s capital on March 5. A group of our dedicated patient-advocates visited Washington to speak with their U.S. representatives and senators about policy issues that affect kidney patients. These dialysis patients, transplant recipients, kidney donors and loved ones joined us for our outreach event, Kidney Action Day on the Hill, held in cooperation with the Congressional Kidney Caucus, where we offered free health screenings and kidney health education. Watch a slideshow of the event.
African-Americans make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population but they account for almost one-third of all cases of kidney failure. Nearly 1 in 5 African-American adults has diabetes, and almost half have high blood pressure, the two leading causes of kidney failure. Learn more, including how you can help prevent kidney disease.
A new blog from AKF, Kidney Today, brings you voices from the fight against kidney disease—patients, caregivers, renal professionals, advocates and more. Check it regularly for information and insight on kidney health, kidney disease and public policy. See our newest post about the five steps to kidney health awareness at our free kidney health screenings.
Help us select the cover for our 2015 calendar! Thirteen talented children who are living with kidney disease are winners in this year’s Calendar Kids Art Contest, and we need your help to select the cover art. The cover artist, selected in online voting that’s happening this month, will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this fall to be honored at our annual gala, The Hope Affair!
National Kidney Month traditionally kicks off AKF’s free kidney health screening season, and we're offering free screenings in Atlanta and Chicago. Reaching out to communities at increased risk for kidney disease is an important part of the American Kidney Fund’s mission. By offering free health screenings, we help people understand their risk for kidney disease and the steps they can take to help prevent it. Check our webpage for updates or to see if there is an upcoming screening near you.
If you are on dialysis, you know that getting the right amount of nutrients and limiting your daily fluid intake is very important for your body. The American Kidney Fund has partnered with Sanofi Renal to bring Kidney APPettite™, a free app for iPhone and iPad, to dialysis patients, nephrologists and renal dietitians. Kidney APPetite helps patients track, manage and adjust their daily nutrient intake to achieve their nutrition goals.
The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP) is an initiative of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), one of the National Institutes of Health. NKDEP aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of kidney disease, the importance of testing those at high risk, and the availability of treatment to prevent or slow kidney failure. NKDEP and AKF are working together to promote the NKDEP Family Reunion Health Guide, highlighting the fact that kidney disease often runs in families. AKF also serves on the NKDEP Kidney Interagency Coordinating Committee that encourages cooperation, communication and collaboration among all federal agencies involved in kidney research and other activities.
We need your support so we can continue offering our programs of patient financial assistance, health education and prevention outreach. One way you can help is by donating your car, truck, van, fleet vehicle, trailer, boat or RV. Vehicle donation is quick and easy; next-day pickup appointments are available if you call by 2 p.m. Pacific Time. For questions, or to arrange a pickup, call 800.936.4356.
